JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Authorities planned to keep searching Wednesday for a Juneau hiker who was reported missing on Saturday.
More than 50 people had been searching for Sharon Buis since Sunday, although that number had fallen off by Tuesday as volunteers returned to work after the holiday weekend.
Buis, 48, was reported missing Saturday night. She did not tell anyone where she was going and her car was found at the Mount Roberts trailhead.
Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Tim Birt said about 10 volunteers would focus early Wednesday on areas off Perseverance Trail. An additional search team was expected to go out later in the day.
Two helicopters scoured the area on Tuesday - one over Mount Roberts, the other over nearby Mount Juneau.
People headed up Mount Juneau or Perseverance Trail sometimes park at the Mount Roberts trailhead. The area features an extensive trail network and is popular with hikers. Search teams have gone over the expanse - some portions of it repeatedly.
Birt said the effort would continue until searchers had done the best they can do.
Friends described Buis as an experienced hiker who likes to travel light and often goes out alone.
Her last known location, based on a receipt found by troopers, was at Alaska Marine Lines at 9:30 a.m. Friday, the Juneau Empire reported (https://bit.ly/1nBOl6D).
“We don’t know what her situation is, so we’re going out there hoping for the best,” Birt said.
Buis, described as 5’7” and 135 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, is originally from Ontario, Canada. Her brother and sister-in-law planned to travel to Juneau on Wednesday.
Troopers have asked residents on the trails to keep an eye out for Buis and to contact them if they want to be part of search efforts.
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Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, https://www.juneauempire.com
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